Photographic apparatus



March 2s, 1944. C, L, WALSH ET AL 2,345,225

`I"IIOTOGRAFIIl'C APPARATUS Filed May '13, 1942 INVENTORS LMU Xia/MU;

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 UNITED STATES rATi-:Nrjorrice PHoroGRAPmo APPARATUS Charles L'. Walsh,'1Louis Isaacsjand Alfred M. Mercur, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignors to Photo- 4graphic Equipment, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation@Pennsylvania- 4 j Applic'ationmay is', 1942v s er1a1 `1`vo.f4r2',s22

This invention 4relates to a photographic apparatus, and while primarily designed and intended for the production of uniform identification photographs of the type and vclass ,commonly taken of employees in industry and the like, it willbe obvious that the device may be employed for any other photographic purposes wherein it is found to be applicable.

Important objects and advantagesof the invcntion are to provide a photographic apparatus of the character described, which will facilitate and expedite the uniform production of identification photographs, which `will produce a picture displaying the accurate height of the person photographed together withv a distinguishing identifying number, which embodies a. camera with fixed focus and lamps likewise havin'gxed focus supplying proper illumination for photo,-l graphic production regardless of outside and surrounding lighting conditions, which may be suc'- cessfully and effectively operated even by a person of ordinary skill, which issimple in. its construction and arrangement, durable and efficient in its use, compact, attractive in appearance, and comparatively economical in its manufacture, operation, and maintenance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view? which will appear as the description proceedsthe invention resides in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herei'nspeciii-` cally described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it .is to be understood that changes in the form, proportions, and details of construction may be resorted to that come within the scope ofthe claim hereunto appended.

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross secton, of a photographic apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figures 2', 3, and 4 are, respectively, top plan, front elevational, and rear elevational views of the device.

Figure 5 is a side view of the number indicator embodied in the present invention.

Figure 6 is a transverse, cross sectional view of the indicator casing showing associated parts.

Referring in detail to the drawing the invention generally comprises a stationary section and an adjustable or shiftable section. The stationary section consists of a hollow stand I including a roller mounted base 2. The stand is preferably square in transverse cross section and has a correspondingly-shaped bore 3 extending throughout the lengththereof, and is topped by'1 an e larged head block 4. j Theadjustable. section of the apparatus' comprises a supporting stem' 5, which is s quarein transverse cross section and mounted for vertical adjustment in the bore 3 of the stand I. A conventional type of balance element. 6 is mounted in the lower end of the supporting stem, and includes a steel strap] having its freeend secured `at the upper end of =the'stan'd in any suitable manner. The balance element is spring con-l trolled and its automatic functionnormally tends to vlift or pull the supporting the stand.

A iixed, vertically extending gripping strip` 9,"v

of considerable length and comprising a pluralityof transversely ,disposedlcorrugations is carried by the rear face of .the supporting stem 5. A A conventional type of spring controlled locking. element l0 is mounted in the rear' wall ofthe stand' Iu adjacent to the upper end of the latter..

The locking element is automatically Voperable for engaging the gripping strip to hold the'sup-f porting stein in .the adjusted position in thestand,v

and is manuallyoperable for releasing Asaid grip-r ping strip to allow thevertical. adjustment ofthe supporting stem in the" stand.

A suitably braced, flat table I I` is permanently-l fixed, in thexhorizontal position in any suitable manner, tothe top-of theisupporting stemfli.l The front endportion I2.of the table isof con-j siderable width, and the rear .end po'rtionfl.' thereof is relativelynarrow in width but is'c'on-'Ly siderably lon'gertlian'. said front end po'rtionll'Z.`

on the top edge margin of the front end table portion I2, and extends along the entire width of the latter. The rearward wall I5 of the indicator casing is disposed at an angle from the vertical, and is provided with a. longitudinally extending, elongated opening I6.

A number indicator I1 is mounted in the casing I4, and comprises a shaft I8, which extends longitudinally in the casing, and is secured in the latter, preferably against rotation, in any suitable manner. The indicator further includes a plurality of similar disks I9, which are revolubly mounted on the shaft and slightly spaced from each other by thin interposed washers 20.

All numerical designations or figures from zero to nine together with blank space are displayed in regular, sequential arrangement on the periphery of each of the disks I9. The relative position of the latter with respect to the Wall opening I6 is such that any of the disks may be manually stem upwardly inl rotated or shifted on the shaft I8, through the opening I6, to visibly display one complete numerical designation or blank space through said wall opening I6.

A brush brake 2I is mounted in the casing I4 and frictionally brushes or engages the peripheries of all of the disks I9 to somewhat stabilize and retard the adjusting movement of the latter on the shaft I8, thereby facilitating the manual adjustment of the disks, through the wall opening I6, to combinedly provide and visibly display the identification number required through said opening I6 in position to be photographed simultaneously with the person being photographed.

A camera support 22 is mounted on and secured to the top of the table II adjacent to the rear end of the latter. A camera 23, of any suitable construction and provided with an operating element 24, is mounted in the support 22 and is focused forwardly. The support 22 'is fixed in.

position to establish and maintain the predetermined proper distance of the camera from lthe person to be photographed, who stands forwardly of the table I I with his chest against the forward face of the indicator casing I4.

A rectangularly-shaped, vertically disposed frame 25 is rigidly secured to respective ends of the indicator frame I4. The frame is intended to surround the persons head and facilitates the centering of the latter to proper photographic position. The camera 23 has a iixed focus best adapted for assuring photographic uniformity, clarity, and excellence.

Suitable electric lamps 26 are fixed in position to the table II or to any other suitable part of the adjustable section of the device. The lamps have fixed focuses, and are positioned to best provide and diffuse proper illumination for photographic purposes, regardless of surrounding lighting conditions.

A suitably graduated length scale 21, for measuring and indicating the height of the person being photographed, is carried at the forward end of a supporting arm 28, and is connected to the latter by means of a hinge 29. The rear end of the supporting arm is detachably secured to the top of the stand head 4, by means of a bolt and wing nut 30, in a manner to hold said supporting arm vagainst movement.

The scale 21, is disposed vertically adjacent to one side and outwardly of the frame 25, and extends through a guide plate 3| which is fixed against the forward face of the casing I4. The engagement of the scale in the guide plate maintains the former in its proper vertical position, f

but allows the vertical adjustment of the adjustable section of the device without disturbing the position and accuracy of the length scale.

The connection and support of the length scale 21,with the supporting arm 28, by means of the interconnecting hinge 29, as stated, is an important feature of the invention. The hinge provides a flexible attachment for the length scale permitting slight, necessary, lateral movements causing the scale to properly accommodate itself, in its engagement in the guide plate 3|, to movements of the adjustable section of the apparatus while said section is being adjusted in the stand.

It will here be noted that, in our improved apparatus the embodied camera 23 and lamps 25 are properly positioned, adjusted, and focused at the factory for best photographic production, and remain in such condition during use. In practice, it is only necessary for the operator to elevate or lower the adjustable section of the device to accommodate the height of the person to be photographed, and to adjust the indicator I1 to display the required identification number through the casing opening I6. The resultant picture will show the likeness of the person photographed, together with his height and identification number.

The present invention provides a most efficient device of its kind, which may be economically constructed, and conveniently operated and employed in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

What we claim is:

In a photographic apparatus, the combination of a supporting stand, a table structure vertically adjustable in said stand, means for holding said structure in the adjusted position, automatically operable means exerting an upward pull on said structure for facilitating the adjustment of the latter in said stand, a centralizing frame sup ported at one end of said structure, a camera carried adjacent to the other end of said structure and having a fixed focus directed toward said frame, illuminating elements mounted on said structure and having a fixed focus directed toward said frame, a numbers indicator mounted on said structure at the lower end of said frame, a supporting arm detachably fixed to said stand, a guide plate xed to said structure, and a height measuring element having a hinged connection with said arm and extending through said guide plate.

CHARLES L. WALSH. LOUIS ISAACS. ALFRED M. MERCUR. 

